A man who police say was found in the North West District with a shotgun and ammunition without a licence was yesterday remanded to prison.
The allegation against Ronald Da Silva is that on January 1, at Big Hope, Waini, North West District, he had a 12-gauge shotgun and eight matching cartridges without a licence.
When the charges were initially read to him, Da Silva admitted his guilt but he denied the charges and his plea was subsequently changed.
According to prosecutor Stephen Telford, the police were conducting a mobile patrol in the North West area when Da Silva was nabbed with the items mentioned in the charge.
He said Da Silva was stopped by the police, who saw him walking along a trail with the gun in his hand. He said the lawmen later carried out a safety precaution test on the firearm when the ammunition was uncovered. The police officers then asked Da Silva to produce his firearm and ammunition licences but he responded that he was unlicensed. He was later arrested and charged.
Da Silva, however, initially told the magistrate that he was guilty of the charges. He, however, later said that he was indeed carrying a quantity of cartridges but that it was seven and not eight as claimed by the police. He also denied ever having a gun in his possession, saying that it was not on his person but rather it was retrieved by the lawmen from a nearby shop.
The magistrate subsequently entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and he was remanded to prison based on a request by the prosecution. The case was transferred to the Akwero Court for April 5.
